Lid for an analytical specimen cup

ABSTRACT

A removable lid (10) for an analytical specimen cup (12) of a type for defining a test space (26) with a chemical strip (24) mounted therein includes a selectively-removable protective cover (16) for selectively covering and uncovering an outer surface of a transparent portion of an outer partition (18) forming the test space. The protective cover is formed as one piece with an inner partition to be attached thereto by a dual living hinge (28a and b). The lid is rectangular in shape and includes an elongated magnifying lens (20) which has protrusions extending into blind holes (62) of the inner partition. The magnifying lens extends across the transparent portion of the outer partition. When the protective cover is in a closed position it impinges on the magnifying lens. A peel-off color analysis chart (22) is mounted on an inside surface of the protective cover.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to specimen cup lids, chemical teststrips for analyzing contents of analytical specimen cups, and,specifically, to analytical specimen cup lids which are combined withchemical test strips.

It has been suggested to combine chemical test strips with analyticalspecimen cup lids so that contents of specimen cups on which the lidsare mounted can be analyzed without the necessity of opening thespecimen cups and inserting chemical strips therein.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,119,830 to Davis describes an analyticalspecimen cup lid coupled with a test strip. That is, an analyticalspecimen cup has a lid with outer and inner partitions to define a testspace therebetween in which a chemical test strip is mounted. A fluidspecimen in the cup is selectively introduced to the chemical strip inthe test space by manipulating a frangible valve which breaks an openingin the inner partition. Thus, the analytical specimen cup described inU.S. Pat. No. 5,119,830 to Davis allows technicians to control whenfluid specimen is introduced to a chemical test strip so that thetechnicians need do this only when they are prepared to read and recorddata.

U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/262,535, filed Jun. 20, 1994 byDavis discloses the concept of placing the chemical test strip on araised shelf in the test space so that the chemical test strip does notremain in contact with a specimen introduced into the test space. Davisalso discloses therein the placement of a peel-off color-analysis charton an exterior surface of the lid adjacent the chemical test strip sothat the peel-off color-analysis chart can be easily compared with thechemical test strip, appropriately marked, peeled from the lid, andplaced on a patient's chart. Although this device has various beneficialstructures, it still has several shortcomings. One problem with thisdevice is that an exposed unprotected lid of this design could bedamaged in storage or transport, tampered with, or have a hole poked ina transparent portion of the outer partition, thereby making the lidvirtually unusable.

For this reason, it is an object of this invention to provide a lid foran analytical specimen cup of a type providing a test space with achemical strip therein which is more safely transported and stored andwhich is relatively tamper proof.

Yet another difficulty with devices of the prior art described above isthat they allow light and moisture to continually enter the test spaceand thereby adversely affect the chemical strip therein. In this regard,it is desirably that chemical test patches be protected from light,especially sunlight, and moisture because such influences tend todiscolor chemical patches on chemical test strips and, therefore, make"readings" taken from the test strips inaccurate.

Thus, it is a further object of this invention to provide a lid for ananalytical specimen cup of a type defining a test space with atransparent partition which does not normally allow an undue amount oflight and/or moisture to reach a chemical strip in the test space.

Yet another difficulty with some of the prior art devices describedabove is that they suggest the use of an optical magnifying lens as partof a lid for aiding a technician in reading the chemical test strip, butthey do not suggest a practical manner of incorporating such amagnifying lens into the lid. Therefore, it is an object of thisinvention to provide a lid for an analytical specimen cup of a typedefining a test space with a chemical test strip therein having amagnifying lens incorporated therein in an inexpensive and practicalmanner.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a lid for ananalytical specimen cup of a type defining a test space with a chemicaltest strip therein which is not unduly expensive to manufacture andwhich is uncomplicated for both patients and technicians to use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to principles of this invention, a lid for an analyticalspecimen cup of a type defining a test space with a chemical test striptherein, includes a selectively movable protective cover for selectivelycovering and uncovering a transparent portion of an outer partitiondefining the test space. The protective cover includes a fastener forholding the protective cover in a covering position, even when the lidis removed from an analytical specimen cup.

The lid is substantially rectangular in shape and includes an elongatedmagnifying lens having protrusions, or spikes, thereon inserted intoblind holes in the lid and extending across the transparent portion ofthe outer partition. The lens is impinged on by the protective coverwhen the protective cover is in a closed position. A peel-offcolor-analysis chart is on an inside surface of the protective cover.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The invention is described and explained in more detail below using theembodiments shown in the drawings. The described and drawn features, inother embodiments of the invention, can be used individually or inpreferred combinations. The foregoing and other objects, features andadvantages of the invention will be apparent from the following moreparticular description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, asillustrated in the accompanying drawings in which reference charactersrefer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings arenot necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed uponillustrating principles of the invention in a clear manner.

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a removable lid of this invention mountedon an analytical specimen cup with a protective cover of the removablelid being in an open position;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line II--II in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a segmented isometric view of a portion of a first embodimentmagnetic lens of the removable lid of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a segmented isometric view of a portion of a second embodimentmagnetic lens of the removable lid of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 5 is a segmented cross-sectional view taken on line IV--IV in FIG.1;

FIG. 6 is a segmented isometric view of a specimen release device of theremovable lid of FIG. 1, shown releasing specimen from the analyticalspecimen cup of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of the structure of FIGS. 1 and 2 with theprotective cover being in a covering and latched position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A removable lid 10, which is pressed onto a specimen cup 12, basicallycomprises an inner partition 14, a selectively removable protectivecover 16, a transparent outer partition 18, a magnifying lens 20, apeel-off color-analysis chart 22 and a chemical test strip 24 mounted ina test space 26 formed between the transparent outer partition 18 andthe inner partition 14. The inner partition 14 and the protective cover16 are molded of one piece of resinous plastic, with the protectivecover 16 being contiguous to the inner partition 14, and being attachedthereto by a dual living hinge 28a and 28b. A spacer 30 between hingeelements 28a and b is also molded as one piece with the inner partition14 and the protective cover 16 and allows the protective cover 16 to bespaced from the inner partition 14 when the protective cover 16 isfolded over the inner partition 14 as is shown in FIG. 7.

An inner wall 32 and an outer wall 34 form a specimen-cup receiving slot36 at a bottom surface of the inner partition 14 extending about aperiphery of the inner partition 14 for receiving an upper edge of thespecimen cup 12. Thus, the removable lid 10 can be firmly seated at amouth of the specimen cup 12 so as to cover the mouth with the innerpartition 14, but can also be easily removed therefrom.

The inner partition 14 extends down into the mouth 38 of the specimencup 12 to form a sump 40 above a specimen 42 in the specimen cup 12. Aspecimen release device 44, also molded as one piece with the innerpartition 14, extends upwardly from a floor 46 of the sump 40 and isattached to the floor 46 by a living hinge 48 at one edge and afrangible apex 50 at two other edges. In this regard, it can be seen inFIG. 6 that the specimen release device 44 is triangular in shape sothat when a force is applied to a top wall 52, having pips 54 thereon,the top wall 52 rotates at the living hinge 48 and applies greatpressure at the frangible apex 50 so that a frangible connection on thespecimen release device 44 breaks, with an edge 56 of the top wall 52moving below the frangible apex 50 and creating an opening 55 throughwhich specimen 42 can pass from the interior of the specimen cup 12 intothe test space 26. The vertical wall 57 of the specimen release device44 then serves as a snorkel to prevent more specimen 42 than isnecessary from entering the test space 26.

A raised shelf 58 is formed by the inner partition 14 above the floor 46of the sump 40 for holding the chemical test strip 24 above the floor46. The raised shelf 48 is located at a higher level than the frangibleapex 50. This position allows the specimen fluid 42 to contact the teststrip 24 when the device is inverted.

The transparent outer partition 18 is formed of a separate member whichis adhered to the inner partition 14. In this regard, the transparentouter partition 18, in a preferred embodiment, is formed of an extrudedmulti-laminate film or of a single ply plastic film, such as mylar ormaybe of other materials which may be adhered, glued, heat-sealed, RFsealed or otherwise sealably connected to the surface of the innerpartition 14, so as to enclose the test space 26. As can be seen in FIG.2, the top surface 52 of the specimen release device is immediatelybelow the transparent outer partition 18. In a preferred embodiment, theinner partition 14 and the protective cover 16, along with the dualliving hinges 28a and b and spacer 30 and other attached components aremolded as one piece of polypropylene or of another suitable flexibleresinous plastic.

The magnifying lens 20 is formed as a separate piece of a polycarbonateplastic such as LAXAN sold by 3M. The magnifying lens 20 is attached tothe inner partition 14 by means of protrusions, or spikes, 60 formed atopposite ends of the magnifying lens 20 which extend into blind holes 62(holes which do not extend completely through) in the inner partition14, as is shown in FIG. 5. In this regard, the protrusion 60, 60a canhave barbs thereon for holding more tightly in the blind holes 62 and,in a preferred embodiment, walls forming the blind holes 62 arehexagonal in shape so as to allow some flexibility for receiving thecylindrically shaped protrusions 60, 60a as they are inserted therein,but yet to also tightly hold the protrusions. Once the magnifying lens20 is mounted on the inner partition 14 in this manner, it stiffens theinner partition 14 and, thereby, stiffens the entire rectangularremovable lid 10. As can be seen in FIG. 2, when the magnifying lens 20is mounted on the inner partition 14, it extends above and across thetransparent outer partition 18 as well as the chemical test strip 24,which is mounted on the raised shelf 58 of the inner partition 14. It isalso noted that the space between the transparent outer partition 18 andthe surface of the chemical test strip 24 is sufficiently large toprevent unwanted capillary adherence of specimen fluid 42 therebetween.

The chemical test strip 24 comprises a line of chemical patches (notshown) each of which changes to a degree of color indicative of acharacteristic of the specimen 42. In this regard, for example, one ofthe patches will change to a particular color, or shade of colordepending upon a pH level of the specimen 42 when it is contacted by thespecimen 42.

The color-analysis chart 22, or label, is releasably adhered to theinner partition 14 and the protective cover 16, and thereby extendsacross the dual living hinge 28a and b and the spacer 30. Thecolor-analysis chart 22 is positioned adjacent to the chemical teststrip 24. The color analysis chart 22 has lines 68 of color blocks 70thereon, each line corresponding to one of the chemical patches (notshown) on the chemical test strip 24. Each of the color blocks 70 in aline 68 has a color which is representative of a possible color that itsrespective chemical patch can obtain when it is contacted by thespecimen 42 (one row of color blocks is positioned on the spacer 30). Atechnician places a cross 72 on the color block 70 most closelyrepresenting the color of its associated chemical patch. The same isrepeated for each line 68 of the color blocks 70 for each of thechemical patches to respectively indicate the pH level, protein, ketone,etc. The peel-off color analysis chart 22 is then removed from theremovable lid 10 by means of a tab 74 and placed onto a separatepermanent record (not shown) to document the test.

As previously mentioned, the protective cover 16 can be in an openattitude, as is depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2, and in a closed attitude, asis depicted in FIG. 7. The protective cover 16 can be rotated betweenthese two positions about the dual living hinge 28a and b. When theprotective cover 16 is in the open position, the transparent outerpartition 18, the specimen release device 44, the color analysis chart22 and the magnifying lens 20 are fully exposed for use by technicians.However, when the protective cover 16 is in the closed position thetransparent outer partition 18, the specimen release device 44, thecolor analysis chart 22 and the magnifying lens 20 are covered up, andthereby protected from tampering, storage and transport hazards, andother inadvertent damage. The protective cover 16 is retained in aclosed position by means of a latch 76, which is molded as one piecewith the protective cover 16 and which has a dove-tail hook 78 forengaging a lower edge 80 of the outer wall 34 for thereby holding theprotective cover 16 in a closed position.

A spacer border 82 is molded as one piece with the protective cover 16on an inner surface thereof, about three edges. When the protectivecover is in the closed position shown in FIG. 7 an edge 84 of the spacerborder 82 impinges on an upper surface 86 of a periphery 88 of the innerpartition 14. The spacer border 82 has ribs 90 thereon which impinge onflanges 92 formed as one piece with the magnifying lens 20 to hold themagnifying lens 20 in a proper position with its protrusions 60, 60aseated.

When the protective cover 16 is in the closed position shown in FIG. 7it can have a tamper indicator/seal 94 extending across the latch 76 toensure that the protective cover 16 remains latched, or locked, to theinner partition 14. It should be understood that when the protectivecover 16 is thusly locked to the inner partition 14, the entireremovable lid 10 can be removed from the specimen cup 12 withoutexposing the transparent outer partition 18, the specimen release device44, the color analysis chart 22 and the magnifying lens 20 to tampering.Further, the indicator seal 94 will show technicians if anyone hastampered with the removable lid 10.

Further embellishments of this invention include lid removal tabs 96 atopposite corners of the outer wall 34 of the inner partition 14 andindentations 98a in the specimen cup 12 at opposite corners thereof tofacilitate users removing the removable lid 10 from the specimen cup 12.The indentations 98a make it easier to grip the lid removable tab 96.Also, in one embodiment, indentations 98b are included in the center ofopposite outer surfaces of the specimen cup 12 to make it easier for atechnician to grip the latch 76.

Looking now at overall operation of the removable lid 10 and itscompanion specimen cup 12, the removable lid 10 and the specimen cup 12are manufactured separately. Once the removable lid 10 has beenassembled with the chemical test strip 24 mounted on the raised shelf58, the transparent outer partition 18 is sealably affixed to the innerpartition 14 so as to enclose the test space 26, the color-analysischart 22 is adhered to the inner partition 14 and the protective cover16, the magnifying lens 20 is mounted on the inner partition 14, theprotective cover 16 is rotated about the dual living hinge 28a and b tothe closed position shown in FIG. 7 (although the removable lid is notyet mounted on a specimen cup as shown in FIG. 7), and the dove-tailhook 78 of the latch 76 is placed under the lower edge 80 of the outerwall 34 to maintain the protective cover in the closed position. Theseal 94 is placed across the latch 76, adhered to the outer wall 34 soas to prevent the protective cover 16 from being rotated to an openposition unless the seal 94 is broken. The removable lid 10 is thenforced onto a specimen cup 12 as shown in FIG. 7 (the protective coverwill be in the closed position shown in FIG. 7 rather than in the openposition shown in FIG. 2).

This composite specimen cup and removable lid is thusly sold to clinics,doctors, hospitals, laboratories, industries, technicians, and the like.When the specimen cup is to be used, it is given to a user and itappears, to the user, that it is merely a specimen cup with a lid. Thatis, the user cannot easily see that the removable lid 10 includes asealed protective cover 16. The user removes the removable lid 10 fromthe specimen cup 12, deposits the specimen 42 therein, and sealablypresses the removable lid 10 onto the specimen cup 12. The specimen cup12 is maintained in this configuration, housing the specimen 42, until atechnician is prepared to analyze the specimen 42.

In order to analyze the specimen 42, the technician breaks the seal 94and detaches the latch 76 from the lower edge 80 to rotate theprotective cover 16 from its covering position. The technician thenforcible depresses the transparent outer partition 18 against the topsurface 52 of the specimen release device 44, thereby braking thefrangible apex 50 of the inner partition 14 and rotating the top wall 52about the living hinge 48. The specimen cup 12 is then inverted so thatthe specimen 42 enters the test space 26 through the opening 55 at thebroken frangible apex 50 into the test space 26. The specimen 42entering the up-side-down test space 26 will come into contact with thechemical test strip 24 but the snorkel wall 57 of the specimenreleasable device 44 will prevent an undue amount of specimen fromentering the test space 26. The specimen cup 12 is then turnedright-side-up so that specimen drains away from the chemical test strip24 on the raised shelf 58 into the sump 40. Thus, air then comes incontact with chemical patches on the chemical test strip 24 causing themto properly react to the specimen 42. Colors achieved by the chemicalpatches on the chemical test strip 24 are read by a technician throughthe magnifying lens 20 and these colors are compared with color blocks70 adjacent the patches. Crosses 72 are placed on corresponding colorblocks 70 to indicate colors of the chemical patches on the chemicalstrip 24. Using the tab 74, the color-analysis chart 22 is then removedand placed in a permanent record. The specimen cup 12 and its removablelid can then be discarded or saved so that the specimen 42 can be usedfor further tests.

It is highly beneficial to have a removable lid covering the transparentouter partition 18, the specimen release device 44, the color analysischart 22 and the magnifying lens 20 to ensure that the integrity of thetest space 26 and the lid 10 itself have been maintained.

Similarly, it is highly advantageous that the protective cover of thisinvention is integrated into the removable lid in such a way that usersaccept the removable lid as being a normal one piece lid so that theywill not try to remove the protective cover 16, and therebyinadvertently tamper with the analyzing elements of the removable lid.

It is also highly advantageous that the protective cover 16 normallyblocks light and moisture from passing through the transparent outerpartition 18 to the chemical strip 24, because in this way theprotective cover 16 ensures that readings taken from the chemical teststrip 24 are more accurate.

It is also beneficial that the inner partition 14 and the protectivecover 16 can be molded of one piece of plastic joined by a living hingebecause in this manner the removable lid 10 can be manufactured in acost effective manner.

Further, it is beneficial that the specimen cup 12 and the removable lid10 are formed in a rectangular shape and that the magnifying lens 20 iselongated. With this configuration the removable lid and the specimencup are stable in shape. In this regard, the separate elongatedmagnifying lens provides stiffness to the removable lid 10.

Similarly, it is beneficial that the magnifying lens is attached to theinner partition by protrusions, or spikes, which extend into blindholes. Such an attachment is economical to manufacture and providesstructural stability.

It is also beneficial that the protective cover has ribs thereon whichimpinge on the magnifying lens when the protective cover is in a closedposition for maintaining the magnifying lens in a proper position.

Yet another beneficial aspect of this invention is that the foldableprotective cover provides a larger area onto which the peel-off analysischart can be placed, with the chart extending across the dual livinghinge 28a and b, without requiring that the specimen cup be undulylarge. When the protective cover 16 is folded out to the open position,the entire color-analysis chart 22 can be seen adjacent the chemicaltest strip 24. It can be seen in FIG. 1 that, in the depictedembodiment, one row of the color blocks 70 is spaced to fall on thespacer 30 between the dual living hinge elements 28a and b.

Yet another benefit of the removable lid of this invention is that whenspecimen cups having this removable lid thereon are transported andstored, one need not be overly careful that the transparent outerpartition is not punctured. Thus, specimen cups with the removable lidof this invention thereon need not be specially packaged.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described withreference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those ofordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and detail may bemade therein without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention. For example, an instruction label could be attached to a topof the removable lid 10 when the removable lid 10 is in the closedposition explaining to users and technicians how the removable lid is tobe used. Also, the seal 94 could have a warning thereon that it is notto be removed except by technical personnel. In one preferred embodimentthe frangible apex portion 50 is attached directly to the raised shelf58.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege are claimed are defined as follows:
 1. A removable lid for ananalytical specimen cup which is selectively removable from saidspecimen cup for placing a specimen in said specimen cup, and which canthen be, once again, placed on said specimen cup, said removable lidincluding an outer partition and an inner partition for defining a testspace with a chemical test strip therein, said outer partition having atransparent portion for allowing a user to see into the test space andsaid inner partition having an opening means for allowing test fluid tobe transferred from a specimen cup on which said lid is placed into saidtest space;wherein said lid further includes a selectively removableprotective cover for selectively covering and uncovering an outersurface of said transparent portion of said outer partition, saidprotective cover including a latch for selectively holding saidprotective cover to said removable lid in a covering position and forselectively being released from said removable lid for allowing saidcover to be selectively removed from said covering position and thenreturned to said covering position.
 2. A protective cover as in claim 1wherein said protective cover is formed as one piece with said innerpartition and is attached thereto along one edge by an integral livinghinge.
 3. A removable lid as in claim 2 wherein said fastening means isa latch attached to a free edge of said protective cover opposite saidintegral living hinge of said protective cover.
 4. A removable lid as inclaim 3 further including a separate elongated magnifying lens attachedto and supported by the inner partition so as to extend across thetransparent portion of said outer partition above the test strip.
 5. Aremovable lid as in claim 4 wherein the protective cover impinges on themagnifying lens when the protective cover is in a closed position.
 6. Aremovable lid as in claim 4, wherein the magnifying lens is attached toand supported by the inner partition in a position to be covered by saidremovable protective cover when said protective cover is in saidcovering position.
 7. A removable lid as in claim 3 further including apeel-off analysis chart mounted on an inside surface of the protectivecover positioned outside of the test space to be accessible exteriorlyof the outer partition.
 8. A removable lid as in claim 2 furtherincluding a peel-off analysis chart mounted on an inside surface of theprotective cover positioned outside of the test space to be accessibleexteriorly of the outer partition.
 9. A removable lid as in claim 8 inwhich said peel-off color-analysis chart extends across said innerpartition, said integral hinge, and said protective cover.
 10. Aremovable lid as in claim 1 further including a separate elongatedmagnifying lens attached to and supported by the inner partition so asto extend across the transparent portion of said outer partition abovethe test strip.
 11. A removable lid as in claim 10 wherein theprotective cover impinges on the magnifying lens when the protectivecover is in a closed position.
 12. A removable lid as in claim 1,further including a peel-off analysis chart mounted on an inside surfaceof the protective cover positioned outside of the test space to beaccessible exteriorly of the outer partition.
 13. A lid for ananalytical specimen cup including an outer partition and an innerpartition for defining a test space with a chemical strip therein, saidouter partition having a transparent portion for allowing a user to seeinto the test space and said inner partition having an opening means forallowing test fluid to be transferred from a specimen cup on which saidlid is placed into said test space;wherein said lid further includes aseparate elongated magnifying lens attached to and supported by theinner partition so as to extend across the transparent portion of saidouter partition, on the exterior thereof, above the test strip.
 14. Alid as in claim 13 wherein said magnifying lens has spikes thereon whichare inserted into blind holes in said inner partition.
 15. A lid as inclaim 14 wherein said lid is rectangular in shape.
 16. A lid as in claim13 wherein said lid is rectangular in shape.